The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-07-17
SOME NEW BooKs
TIE H.ans ef Lee XIII.

pressed By tho change In the prestige and In
nuence Of the Papaoy since tho death OF Plus
TX. II may DO doubted whether At any period
In the last thousand years had the authority
and dignity Of the sovereign Pontif been moro
impaired or his security moro imperilled than
seemed to be tho case In 1873. 1t II true that
tho Pope was suffered to inhabit corner OF
the city which had been the capital OF Chris
tendon. rot he was far less Independents
than his French predecessors had been at
Avignon. It II true. too. that he was not
subjected to the outrage Of imprisonment,
yet. immurod within the precinct OF tho
Vatican, no was hardly moro free than Plus
VII. had been In actual captivity. Neither was
the humiliation OF the Holy Bee In tho italian
peninsula compensated by tho difference paid
to its injunctions elsewhere In Europe. In
Franco and Germany the masters OF the State
threatened the Church with subversion. and
oven In countries normally faithful. like Aus
tria, Belgium. and Portugal. forces allied to
those which Bismarck and Gambetta had In
voksd were assiduously undermining Ito
foundations There was not Q statesman In
European Cabinet who considered the wishes,
the aims. the resources, Of the tenant OF st.
Petsre chair worthy Of grave consideration. or
who dreamed Of witnessing In the present Gen-
GRAFTON revival OF that moral weight In tho
councils Of the world which was supposed to
have been lost with temporal dominion
It is only nine years sinoe Cardinal Joachim
Pecci succeeded Plus TX. yet We find that the
position Of the Vatican. In Italy and loutside OF
It. has undergone . startling Transformation as
regards moral influence and spiritual power.
Tho respect for ecclesiastical authority re-
awakened in the masses Of the italian popula-
ton and the prospect Of the ultimate interpo-
o0N ~ half nfnv In ha ar,
watched with attention and misgiving by King
Humbert's Ministers. Haunted as they are by
the tradition OF Transalpine Intervention, the
politicians Of the QuirinAl have boon more
deeply moved than other observers by the
spectacle OF the victory gained BY the Clerlcals
in Germany and the suppression Of the Kul-
turkampf BY species Of alliance between
Pope and Kaiser. In France, where cleri-
calism had been denounced as the cap
ital enemy Of free institutions, the folly
OF arrayine against the republic forces
which have proved too mighty for Bismarck is
moro and moro distinctly recognized. In the
Cisleithan Parliament and the local legisla-
lures OF the Austrian provinces tho seoulariz-
Ing movement in Yielding ground to Catholic
reaction. In Belgium the Catholic party has
recovered ascendsncy. In Russian Poland i'm
portant CONCESSIONS long refused. have re-
Gently been made to the claims Of tho Vatican.
In Portugal the old dispute In relation to ecole-
siastical interests in the East Indies has been
settled In compliance with the wishes OF tho
Holy See. In England Catholicism has made
remarkable progress, while at the same
affections Of tho Irish people. Its growth
In the United States. whether we look
ut the number Of converts or their weight in
the community. Il An extraordinary phenom-
enon. OF these imposing and far diffused man
ifestations Of reviving strength every one has
taken place in the short Pontiical career Of
Leo KILL. and must be chiefly ascribed to the
impact of his individuality. Tho life OF such q
man Is necessarily invested with commanding
interest for every student OF contemporary his
tory. and light upon II will be welcomed a. eager
~ BY those who see In him only primo political
and social factor - by those who hold his
once I'm vensrstion. It IL with NO common
satisfaction. therefore. that we note the publ
cation Of . LIE Of Leo XIII. BY DR.. BERNARD
ORxnLY New York: Charles L. Webster b Co.l
prepared with the appreciation Of the Pope.
and founded on data furnished BY himself.
Joachim Vincent Raphael Lodovico Pecci
was born ON March .. 1910. ct Carpinoto. q
small town in the Volscian hills. at no Rreat
distance from Rome. He war the fourth son Of
Count Lodovico Pecci and Anna Prosperi.Buzi
his father being . descendant Of Q noble Bien-
nose family. branch Of which had migrated
from Tuscany to the Papal States In the early
part Of the sixteenth century. From his eighth
to his fourteenth year he studied In Jesuit
school at viterbo, whence he passed to the Col
legio Romano. or GreRoriAn University, in
Rome. which Leo XII. restored to the Jesuit
order. Il 10 interesting to learn that he was
distinguished for proficiency In mathematics,
physics. and chemistry, a. well AZ for skill In
Latin composition. In his twentieth year he
was chosen public disputant. the highest
honor sttainable BY an undergraduate.
An elder brother. Joseph, had become
member Of tho Society Of Jesus.
and in 1880 Joachim was matrioulated
among the divinity students Of tho university.
receiving two years later the degree Of Doctor
In Theology. He then entered the academy or
college for noble ecclesiastics which was the
nursery oflthose who were destined for q diplo-
mstio or administrative career under the Pom
tiical Government. Here he obtained in duo
course the degree Of Doctor In Civil and Canon
Law. and in 1887 was appointed BY Gregory
XVI. one Of his domestic prelates. Soon after
ward he was made Referendary to the Court
Of SeonHtura. and was raised to place among
the prelates Of the Congregation di Buonoo-
VOsHOs Al tuO bnAnO yooS AO k0coASOo buD-uoo-
oonship and dsaconship and the priesthood at
the hands Of Cardinal Odescalchi. the Pope's
vicar-GeneraL Thenceforward for six years
his life was devoted to the diplomatic and adj
ninistrative service Of the Holy See.
Thus in 1888 he was appointed Governor CT
the province Of Benevento. whore there was
but little respect for law and order and per-
petual risk OF conflict between the Neapolitan
and Papal authorities Here he remained until
1841, and succeeded in entirely suppressing
brigandage and smuggiing, which had been
rampant In the district Then transferred to
the government Of Spoleto. he rendered signal
service by purifying the local administration
throughout Umbds. Being now recognized as
ono Of tho most efficient prelates at the dispo-
sal Of the Vatican. he was in 1S43 chosen to
ali the post Of Apostolic Nuncio at Brussels.
About the Same time he was made titular
Archbishop Of Damietta.
At Brussels the new Nuncio found himself in
presence Of the same struggle between Liber-
ais and Clericals which during his pontihcate
has gone on In France and Germany. The
University Of brussels was under State con-